Office-seeker Jailed To Assess Stability

In his most recent rash of angry letters, disbarred lawyer and School Board candidate Scott Katz calls one Palm Beach County judge ``corrupt,`` ``inept,`` a ``drunkard`` and a ``womanizer.``

That language is about the mildest Katz has used in the hundreds of letters he has sent judges, lawyers, the media and law enforcement agencies during the past year.

Enough is enough, Circuit Judge Michael Miller said on Thursday.

Miller ordered Katz arrested and held without bail ``so that an examination as to his mental condition can be held with the primary thrust being whether he is a danger to the community or himself.``

Besides what Miller called the ``steady degeneration`` of Katz`s letters and court pleadings, Miller noted that Katz had recently obtained a concealed- weapons permit.

Acting on the order, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement arrested Katz about 3 p.m., after he came into the West Palm Beach office to complain about agents` conduct, Special Agent Supervisor Michael Loffredo said.

A scuffle occurred during the arrest, Loffredo said. Jail records show Katz, 31, of Palm Springs, was charged with resisting arrest without violence.

What Miller`s order did, in effect, was to revoke Katz`s release in a case in which he is charged with violating his probation.

Katz is serving one year of probation stemming from his no contest plea in May to five misdemeanor charges of practicing law while disbarred. He represented himself in that case.

His probation officer filed an affidavit on Jan. 13 stating that Katz had violated a condition of his probation, namely that he has failed to cease his pending legal actions.

Katz will remain in custody until after Miller gets a report on Katz`s mental condition and after a final hearing on the probation violation charge.

If Katz is found guilty of the violation, he could be jailed. He also could be committed to a mental health institution if found to be a threat to himself or the community.

Even though Katz is on probation, he was lawfully entitled to obtain a concealed-weapons permit under Florida gun laws enacted in 1987. But he is not permitted to carry a gun while on probation, authorities said.